Ralph Alfonso, a Vancouver poet who used to live in Toronto back in the day and managed its premier 1977 punk band, the Diodes, leads Ralph. For this CD, he sets his beat poetry verse to '50s style downbeat jazz with discordant blue piano, vibes, swirling '60s organs, flute, and some real finger-snapping jazz bass, drums, and guitar. The witty, cultured Alfonso name-checks Jack Kerouac, Mario Lanza, John Coltrane, Paul Desmond, and Wes Montgomery and then pulls out one of Montgomery's patented guitar lines -- just one funny moment here of the tough-talking city dweller speaking at us from the streets but with an innate sense of cool. I like his tribute to Canadian big towns on the title track, maybe we'll see him downtown one late night when nothing's still open except the dive bars. You imagine him wearing a beret, sporting a jazz 'fro on his chin, and saying "Das cool daddy o." But would he shoot an apple off the head of his wife in Mexico? ~ Jack Rabid, The Big Takeover, All Music Guide
Tracks
Track Title
Composers
Performers
Time
Wet Cigarette
John Cody
Ralph
(3:18)
Acid Jazz on a Rainy Day
Ralph Alfonso
Ralph
(3:43)
Last Year's Valentine
John Rummen, Ralph Alfonso
Ralph
(1:59)
Mario Lanza
Lauren Agnelli
Ralph
(3:53)
This Is for the Night People
John Rummen, Ralph Alfonso
Ralph
(3:55)
Short Mood [Instrumental]
Ralph
(:45)
God Shine Your Light on My Corner Tonight
Ralph Alfonso
Ralph
(1:01)
John Coltrane New York City
Ralph Alfonso
Ralph
(5:12)
Midnight in Manhatten
Ralph Alfonso
Ralph
(2:57)
Lucky to Be Lucky
John Rummen, Ralph Alfonso
Ralph
(1:40)
Staten Island for Two
John Rummen, Ralph Alfonso
Ralph
(2:58)
Sleepy Little Girl
John Rummen, Ralph Alfonso
Ralph
(1:02)
Nostalgia for Nowhere
Andy Creeggan, Ralph Alfonso
Ralph
(2:27)
Jazz No. 1 [Instrumental]
Ralph
(:41)
Why Does My Paul Desmond Record Start Skipping When I Try to Kiss You?
Dave Hamilton (Drums (Snare)), Lee Aaron (Vocals), John Cody (Drums), Lauren Agnelli (Bass), Lauren Agnelli (Vocals), Dave Rave (Guitar (Electric)), Dave Rave (Vocals (Background)), Dave Rave (Mixing), Blair Packham (Bass), Blair Packham (Engineer), Ralph Alfonso (Whisper), Ralph Alfonso (Hi Hat), Adam Drake (Drums), Ralph (Main Performer), Glenn Marshall (Mixing), Jeff Dawson (Engineer), Jeff Dawson (Remixing), Jeff Dawson (Mixing)
